Brian34Cook

08.06.2008 2:20 am
GM says Cards “Can’t Just Keep Giving Games Away Like That.”
By Derrick Goold

DOWNTOWN — Had one groundball turned out differently, had it not slipped through his hands as rapidly and frustratingly as the save did a few moments later, maybe the questions would have been different.
But Tuesday is another blown save for the Cardinals’ bullpen — No. 27, for those keeping score — and means another inquisition for the club’s closer, Jason Isringhausen.

Isringhausen entered his second save opportunity since returning to the role with a three-run lead and the bases empty after Andruw Jones’ solo home run to open the ninth. No need to repeat the play by play here. (Senior baseball writer Joe Strauss has it covered in the game story.) With the bases loaded, James Loney hit a dribbler down the first base line. There was a clear play at first base, but Isringhausen mishandled the ball. A run scored. The bases remained loaded. There was still one out.

Q: Mo, what was your take on what you saw in the ninth inning tonight?

Mozeliak: It was disappointing. Obviously to get a game pitched so well up until the ninth and to have the outcome go the way it did, in terms of a home run, hit, walk — it was tough. I think it’s something that Tony, Dunc and I will talk about tomorrow, strategize and see what makes the most sense. You can’t just keep giving games away like that.

We’re not in a situation where we can go out and necessarily find somebody to close. We’re very supportive of Izzy, and we’ve stood by him. but at some point we have to get some results.

Q: Would rookie Chris Perez be considered as an option?

Mozeliak: Everything is an option right now. We have to be open-minded and just try to make the best decision for this club. You look at how (Chris Carpenter) pitched today and how outstanding he was. He gave this team more than a chance to win. And it got down to the ninth and we just couldn’t put it away.

Q: Are you going to discuss (how to use the current) roster differently, or are you going to look at doing something roster-wise?

Mozeliak: I just want to listen to Tony and Dunc and hear what all of our available options are. Someone brought up Chris Perez. What may be the kind of change in strategy which might be a different formula that might work? We’re not going to be able to go out and necessarily trade for someone to be that closer. Izzy may get that opportunity. That’s for Tony and Dunc to let me know. I’m not ruling that out at all right now.

I think right now people are answering things with more emotion than real thought. It’s just something that regardless of how you look at it’s a frustrating situation when you can think of how we’ve lost a lot of these games late in the game. A lot of them come to mind. It’s unfortunate.

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